| |
Nina’s eyes burned. She’d been sitting by the window all night, watching. She wasn’t sure for what or whom, but something or someone was out to get her.
Though Rodney had begged Nina all night to come to bed, she couldn’t. When he’d awoken this morning, she hadn’t left her spot. He’d said she should go back to bed before going into the bathroom to get ready before waking the girls for school. But instead, she’d called Deja then gotten dressed.
Rodney left the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. “Who was that on the phone?”
“What?”
Rodney squinted, like he was trying to figure something out. “I heard you talking to someone when I was in the bathroom.”
Nina opened her mouth. Careful. She shut it. “I’m meeting my dad for coffee.”
“Why?”
Nina stared blankly at her husband. “I need advice from him.”
Rodney’s expression softened. “What’s going on? You can talk to me.”
Rodney’s compassion surprised Nina. “It’s just that...”
“Just what?” Rodney encouraged. “You scared me last night, and I want to know what’s going on.”
“That’s just it. I don’t know. It’s the whole mental illness thing. He experienced it with my mom, and he witnessed it tear Isaiah apart, so I need some advice on how to handle this.”
Rodney wrapped his arms around Nina and hugged her tight. “I’m here for you. I want you to know that.”
Nina inhaled the fresh scent of her husband’s Irish Spring soap and mint toothpaste. Wrapped in his arms, for the first time in a week, she felt safe.
***
NINA STARED AT THE television in the empty donut shop around the corner from her house. She’d been forcing small talk with her dad for half an hour, and both of them were running out of things to say.
“So what’d you need to talk about?” Nina’s dad asked.
“What do you mean? We’ve been talking.” Nina grinned.
“You’re my daughter, and I know you. Whenever you need something, you get that expression on your face.” He drummed his fingers on the countertop. “Tell me. What’s up?”
“Well... remember the other day when you asked how the real estate market is right now?”
The donut shop employee approached them, offering a refill of coffee. Her dad gestured for some then thanked him. “Sure. I remember,” he said after the man left.
“It’s not going well. I wonder if I could borrow ten thousand dollars. Only until Monday, when I would pay you back in full.”
Her dad exhaled, leaning back in his chair. “What mess has Rodney got into now?”
“What?” She’d been so focused on getting the words out that she hadn’t anticipated he’d respond with that.
“What scheme is Rodney trying to run now? Since you met him, he lost his job and has done nothing but spend your money as you supported his”—Nina’s dad hooked his fingers—“real estate career that’s never taken off. He kicked you out of the house, took your money, and now he needs ten thousand dollars?”
Nina expected the Rodney-bashing from her mom, but she wasn’t used to hearing it from her dad. “Where’s this coming from? I assumed you liked Rodney and considered him to be like a son.”
“I had one son, and there’s one person I consider to be like one. Rodney isn’t either.” Her dad’s tone turned bitter.
“Right.” Nina focused on the diamond ring on her left finger. She hadn’t known what she was signing up for when she’d married Rodney and couldn’t admit the truth: that he’d turned out to be a terrible disappointment. He probably felt the same about her.
“I love you, and I want you to be happy. So tell me about this.” Her dad bit his donut.
Nina fiddled with the paper napkin in her hand. She carefully spoke the words that she’d rehearsed the whole sleepless night. “Rodney found this property that he wants to buy quick sale. I only need ten thousand more to complete the sale, and then the company will reimburse me first thing next week.”
Her dad nodded slowly. “If I’m going to make an investment like this, I think I should talk to Rodney first.” His eyes narrowed, and his lips were tight, his “trying not to seem mad but I’m mad” look.
“No!” Nina yelled. “I mean, no. It’s not an investment. It’s a personal loan for me. I’ve made some less-than-smart investments, and I didn’t want Rodney to know that I’ve spent a good sum of money.”
Her dad nodded more. “I see. Have you been on a spending spree? Like last time?”
“No, not like last time. I spent some money on me that I didn’t want Rodney to know about. But like I said, I only need it for a few days, then I can pay you back in full. You know I don’t ask you for money, so you should know that I really need it.” That part was true at least. Nina’d never needed something from her dad so desperately before.
Reaching his hand across the table, he patted her hand. “Okay. I trust you. Let’s go to the bank.” He laid a ten-dollar bill on the counter and gulped the remainder of his coffee.
Nina’s heart broke at her dad’s words. He shouldn’t trust her. For God’s sake, she couldn’t trust herself. But she loved her dad. And in order to spare them both more heartache, she needed to make sure that body was gone for good.